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Glamour photography was everything in 1940s and 50s Hollywood! It was an art form where light, makeup, and airbrushing came together to craft images of movie stars that were intense, luminous, and flawless.
Today, I want you to take a series of 3 photos in this style of 3 different people. Your task is to capture this timeless style with a modern edge. Think studio shadows, sharp cheekbones, glossy lips, and a high-drama atmosphere.
In the Studio
In the Studio
Photograph 3 different people in the studio:
Backdrop: Use a solid black background to create a high-contrast, dramatic look.
Lighting:
Use dramatic or drastic lighting. Think hard shadows, edge lighting, and high-contrast setups.
Hot lights (tungsten or continuous lights) are ideal for recreating the old Hollywood feel.
Use a butterfly lighting setup to sculpt the face, or experiment with Rembrandt and split lighting for mood.
Styling: Suggest vintage-inspired wardrobe or accessories (scarves, hats, bold lips, etc.) for continuity with the glamour theme (optional).
CONSIDER camera settings:
Shoot in RAW format to retain maximum detail and flexibility in post.
Focus on sharpness, good exposure for highlights, and subtle shadows.
Outside
Outside
Photograph 1 person:
Locations: Select two unique outdoor environments. The location should add mood or contrast to the subject.
Posing: Try different poses in each shot. Think bold, elegant, and cinematic. Channel the confidence and poise of old Hollywood stars!
Lighting: Use natural light or portable lighting to create dramatic effects:
CONSIDER:
Shooting during golden hour for mood.
Use harsh midday shadows for graphic contrast.
Backlighting for a halo effect.
In Photoshop
In Photoshop
Load all your images into a folder on your desktop labeled "Glamour"
Open your images ONE at a time in PS
Convert the image to black and white
Notice you can change the reds, yellows, greens, cyans, and blues. When you do so, notice how the change the highlights and lowlights of the image!
4. Edit the brightness and contrast curves by making a levels or curves adjustment the same way you turned the image b/w.
5. You can bring back some details by brightening areas using your brush tool:
use a soft edge brush
set the opacity at 30%
make sure it's on true black
and paint back some details on the levels layer mask
6. Save each as a JPEG and place them on a Google Slideshow (1 image per slide), before turning the Google slides into Canvas.
Final notes:
Final notes:
This project is about STYLE and DRAMA! You are not just documenting a face, but crafting a persona.
Push the aesthetic in both the lighting setup and the editing process. You’re not just capturing beauty, you’re creating legends!
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